Mario (album)

Mario
Studio album by Mario
Released March 19, 2002
Recorded July 2001 – January 2002
Genre R&B
Length 44:53
Label J
Producer Clive Davis (exec.), Peter Edge (also exec.), Troy Patterson (also exec.), Kerry Brothers, Jr., Alicia Keys, Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, The Underdogs, Gérald Isaac, Amir Salaam, KL
Mario chronology
Mario
(2002)		 Turning Point
(2004)
Singles from Mario
  1. "Just a Friend 2002"
    Released: May 4, 2002
  2. "Braid My Hair"
    Released: September 7, 2002
  3. "C'Mon"
    Released: January 9, 2003

Mario is the eponymous debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Mario. It was released on March 19, 2002, by J Records. At the time of the release, Barrett was only 15 years old. Mario was supported by three singles: "Just a Friend 2002", "Braid My Hair" and "C'Mon".

The album debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200, selling 96,000 copies in the first week. The album became a certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for selling 596,000 copies in the United States.[1] In 2006, the Japanese edition to this album, it included the "Old School" version for his single, "Just a Friend 2002".

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [2]
Robert Christgau [3]
USA Today [4]

Dan LeRoy from AllMusic states the album "offers doses of the real thing; its combination of Nickelodeon-style charm and authentic substance are reminiscent of nothing so much as a young Michael Jackson, with none of the creepy subtext. While it misses out on the humor of the original, the cover of Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" proves a shrewd update of the unwillingly platonic classic, and serves as a gateway to better originals, including a few slow numbers most teens have neither the chutzpah to try or the chops to handle. "Chick Wit' da Braids" and the swirling, organ-laced "Never" lead that pack, and the second song about cornrows, "Braid My Hair," manages to evoke the downside of being a child star without sounding like an ungrateful punk. Naturally, you have to excuse a certain amount of filler to believe fully in Mario's potential, but most of these 11 tracks offer generous hints of it".[2]

Promotion

In 2002, during Bow Wow's tour, Mario toured as one of the opening act, alongside R.O.C. and Denim. In 2003, he also been touring alongside Nick Cannon, AJA, Jhené, Marques Houston and B2K, as one of the supporting acts for the 2003's Scream Tour III.[5]

Singles

The debut single, "Just a Friend 2002" (which is a cover of Biz Markie's hit "Just a Friend"), was released on May 4, 2002. The song was produced by Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell. The song outperformed to the original song on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 4, while the song reached at number 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming the second most successful single in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the song reached at number 18.

Braid My Hair was released as the album's second single on September 7, 2002. The song was produced by Campbell and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. In comparison with the debut single it was a disappointment, when it reached only at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

The album's third and final single, "C'Mon" was released on January 9, 2003. The song was produced by Campbell. The song peaked at number 61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] and at number 21 in the United Kingdom.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Just a Friend 2002"  Mario Barrett, Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Harold Lilly, John "Jubu" Smith, Marcel HallCampbell 3:36
2. "C'Mon"  Barrett, Campbell, Luther Campbell, David Hobbs, Chris Wong Won, Mark Ross, Sean "P. Diddy" CombsW. Campbell 3:24
3. "Braid My Hair"  Barrett, W. Campbell, LillyW. Campbell 4:07
4. "2 Train"  Barrett, Kerry Brothers, Jr., Paul "L" Green, Alicia Augello CookAlicia Keys 4:03
5. "What Your Name Is"  Barrett, Damon Thomas, Harvey Mason, Jr.The Underdogs 5:57
6. "Holla Back"  Barrett, Thomas, Mason, Jr., Mischke Butler, Steve RussellThe Underdogs 3:38
7. "Could U Be"  Barrett, Butler, Russell, Thomas, Mason, Jr.The Underdogs 4:07
8. "Put Me On"  Barrett, Brother, Jr., Bertram Reid, Woody Cunningham, Norman Durham, Ronald Miller, CookBrother, Jr. 3:39
9. "Chick Wit da Braids"  Barrett, Gérald IsaacIsaac 3:50
10. "Never"  Barrett, IsaacIsaac 3:59
11. "Girl in the Picture"  Barrett, Anthony Akiens, Kevin "KL" Lewis, Daniel Mickens, Amir SalaamSalaam, KL 4:35
Sample credits

Personal and credits

  • Vocals: Mario
  • Mixing: Manny Marroquin, Tony Maserati, Ben Arondale, Tony Black & Jon Gass
  • Arranger: Mischke
  • Vocals (Background): Mischke, Alicia Keys & Mario
  • Vocal Producer: Mischke
  • Guitar: John Jubu Smith
  • Bass: Neil Stubenhaus
  • Engineer: Layout Jan Fairchild, Dave Russell, Thor Laewe, Jeff Allen & Tony Black
  • Guitar: Xavier Marquez
  • Pro-Tools: Erik Steinert
  • Executive Producer: Troy Patterson, Peter Edge & Clive Davis
  • A&R: Ronald B. Gillyard, Larry Jackson
  • Photography: Michael Lavine
  • Photo Production: Chris LeBeau
  • Cover: Gregory Burke
  • Stylist: June Ambrose
  • Production Coordination: Jolie Levine-Aller
  • Project Coordenation: Sandra Campbell
  • Multi Instruments: Warryn Campbell & Alicia Keys

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 3

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[8] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts

Chart (2002) Position
US Billboard 200[9] 169
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[10] 58

Release history

Region Date Label
United States July 23, 2002 J
Japan July 28, 2006 BMG Japan

References

  1. ↑ "Hot Product".
  2. 1 2 LeRoy, Dan. "Mario - Mario". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
  4. ↑ USA Today review
  5. ↑ Shaheem Reid (14 October 2002). "Mario Tour with Bow Wow".
  6. ↑ "Mario – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Mario. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Mario – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Mario. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  8. ↑ "American album certifications – Mario – Mario". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 22, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  9. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2002". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2002". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 7, 2015.

External links

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